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Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Early Childhood
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Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Early Childhood

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Children's Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 9299

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Anastasia Kyvelidou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Pharmacy and Health, Creighton University, California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
Interests: neuro-developmental disabilities during infancy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The prevalence of developmental disorders (DDs) has increased rapidly over the last few decades. Therefore, there is a need for the early diagnosis of DDs, as well as descriptive studies that enhance our understanding of DDs and assess the changes in behavior that occur with various treatment approaches. One of the main goals of this Special Issue is to describe and identify functional and clinical differences between children with DDs and neurotypical children, and assess the influence of theory-driven therapeutic protocols for children with DDs. Treatment protocols for children with developmental delays differ significantly and depend greatly on the main diagnosis, individual healthcare professionals, and theoretical frameworks. Moreover, longitudinal studies examining the effectiveness of such treatment protocols and their effectiveness on later social, cognitive, emotional and perceptual domains are lacking. The content of this Special Issue will cover a variety pediatric developmental topics, including ADHD, autism, intellectual disability, neurodevelopmental disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, motor delay, developmental screening and assessment, and early intervention. All types of manuscripts, such as research papers and reviews, are welcome.

Dr. Anastasia Kyvelidou
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neurodevelopmental disabilities
  • infancy
  • childhood
  • autism
  • cerebral palsy
  • developmental delay
  • early intervention
  • innovative interventions
  • motor development
  • postural control
  • qualitative data

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1285 KiB  
Article
Third-Generation Behavioural Therapies in the Context of Neurodevelopmental Problems and Intellectual Disabilities: A Randomised Clinical Trial with Parents
by David Lobato, Francisco Montesinos, Eduardo Polín and Saray Cáliz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4406; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054406 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3019
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine how 14 parents of children with autism and intellectual impairments responded to an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based psychological flexibility intervention programme. A randomised clinical trial was conducted. Parents were randomly assigned to the training [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to examine how 14 parents of children with autism and intellectual impairments responded to an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based psychological flexibility intervention programme. A randomised clinical trial was conducted. Parents were randomly assigned to the training programme group (n = 8) or waiting list group (n = 6). The treatment effect was measured using the 6-PAQ, PSS-14, GHQ-12, and WBSI questionnaires. Changes in interactions were assessed through self-recording, including a baseline to observe the previous functioning. Measures were taken before and after the application of the intervention programme and three months later. After that, the control group was switched to the psychological flexibility programme condition. After the programme’s implementation, we could see a reduction in stress and the tendency to suppress unwanted private events. The impacts also appeared to apply to family interactions, resulting in a rise in positive interactions and a decrease in unfavourable ones. The results led us to think about the importance of psychological flexibility for the parents of children with chronic conditions, facilitating a reduction in the emotional impact derived from parenting and the emission of behaviours that promote the harmonious development of the diagnosed child. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Early Childhood)
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16 pages, 981 KiB  
Article
Piloting a Home Visual Support Intervention with Families of Autistic Children and Children with Related Needs Aged 0–12
by Marion Rutherford, Julie Baxter, Lorna Johnston, Vaibhav Tyagi and Donald Maciver
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4401; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054401 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3002
Abstract
Visual supports are an important intervention for autistic individuals and others with neurodevelopmental differences. However, families often report limited access to visual supports and lack of information and confidence in their use at home. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and [...] Read more.
Visual supports are an important intervention for autistic individuals and others with neurodevelopmental differences. However, families often report limited access to visual supports and lack of information and confidence in their use at home. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a home-based visual supports intervention. Methods: 29 families with children (n = 20 males; mean age 6.59 years [Range 3.64–12.21 years SD 2.57]) receiving support for autism or related needs participated in the study. Parents engaged in an individualised assessment and intervention process through home visits, completing pre- and post-measures. Qualitative methods were used to explore the parents’ experiences of the intervention. Results: The intervention led to a statistically significant improvement in parent-reported quality of life (t28 = 3.09, p = 0.005) and parent-reported perception of autism-specific difficulties (t28 = 2.99, p = 0.006). Parents also reported improved access to resources and relevant information and increased confidence in using visual supports at home. The home visit model was strongly supported by the parents. Conclusion: The results provide initial evidence of the acceptability, practicality, and utility of the home-based visual supports intervention. These findings suggest that outreach into the family home may be a beneficial mechanism for delivering interventions related to visual supports. This study highlights the potential of home-based interventions to improve access to resources and information for families and the importance of visual supports in the home setting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Early Childhood)
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11 pages, 1481 KiB  
Article
Development of Infant Sitting Postural Control in Three Groups of Infants at Various Risk Levels for Autism Spectrum Disorder
by Anastasia Kyvelidou, Shari DeVeney and Dimitrios Katsavelis
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1234; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021234 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2574
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the development of sitting postural control among two groups of infants at elevated risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and a group of infants at typical risk for ASD and its association with cognitive, language [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to examine the development of sitting postural control among two groups of infants at elevated risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and a group of infants at typical risk for ASD and its association with cognitive, language and communication skills at a later age. We visited infants in their home environment from the onset of sitting until sitting independence and at 12 and 18 months of age. We collected data on sitting posture (center of pressure), through a portable force platform, as well as communication, cognitive and social behavior assessments at various time points. Our results showed that postural control differences at the onset of sitting, were present among the groups of infants but there were no statistically significant differences among the groups in the development of sitting posture. In addition, there were statistically significant communication differences among the groups and mostly the change in sample entropy in the anterior/posterior direction (posture measure) was significantly correlated with other skills at a later age. This study highlights the importance of investigating multiple at-risk groups to identify unique developmental pathways that may lead to an ASD diagnosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Early Childhood)
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